Ok. So, I've been thinking about this whole thing. This time you get to hear the other side. Let's do it. Tempt fate. Strike back for all good things apple & american (recently I've been pondering learning japanese, but realize all I want to do is be able to read about all the cool PB stuff going on over there). I've been reading the technical specs on motorola's website. From what I can tell the chip in the 2300 is most likely a QFP package. I've talked to some people I know "in the business" and they say it is quite possible to solder on a 240 pin QFP like the 2300 uses. However, it is much more difficult to remove one intact. Even with the right equipment it can be difficult. That doesn't matter, however. We would want to buy a brand new chip, not scavenge from an old Mac, potentially ruining it also. It is possible to obtain 603e's in small quanities (one or two) or in large quanities (25-100). I could get one or two for free (potentially, as a "sample") or larger quanities for ~$50 each. So, now I think it can be done, though I do stand by my past self in saying that this is a crazy idea. This is where I come clean and admit that: I don't have a 2300 (I have a Duo 250, and a 2400), and more importantly there are a number of things I don't know about it. Do you know them? They are very important. Questions: 1. What chip does the 2300 use, exactly? Is it in fact a QFP? Is it a 603, or a 603e? (I'd wager 603, but I'm not sure) How many pins does it have? 2. What does the 2300 bus run at? (I'd wager 33.33 mhz) 3. Does its bus have the potential for overclock? Could it run any faster than 33.33 mhz (if that is its speed)? 4. Does anyone know how to set the clock multiplier on this machine, and how to set the logic board bus. 5. Did anyone laugh at my previous post? It was meant to be somewhat humorous, I hope nobody took it too seriously. In closing, I personally think that whoever originally said they did this either was full of it (for reasons that will become clear as we talk about this further), or might likely have gone through a pile of machines getting it to work, and the result might have been a bit of a battery eater. Here then are concerns/questions for this project aside from sanity: (In order of importance) 1. Power requirements (3.3v/2.5v issue) 2. Bus speed (what is it? can it be changed? Would it work at a higher speed?) 3. Clock speed (does anyone know how to change the multiplier?) 4. Package (can you get a QFP 603e any faster than 200 mhz?) 5. Does #4 matter? If you only had a multiplier was only x6 (which I think it is) then 6 times 33.33 is 200 (perfect for that chip) you'd need to run the LB at 50 mhz and multiply by six to get 300 mhz, I doubt the 2300 could run that fast. The End Note: Yes, I do rant a bit. And once I get going I don't stop quickly. Don't make it worse by quoting the whole thing. Jeremy Wood ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> Dr. Bott LLC | Get a LapBottom with new �GRIPPIER� gripper pads! | http://www.drbott.com/prod/lapbot.html $23.00 Midwest Mac Parts <http://www.midwestmac.com> | After-market parts for Macs. Fix your ticking dock for $59 w/ trade-in of PS. 888-356-1104 PowerBook Guy is | Click here! Everything PowerBook! | http://www.powerbookguy.com
